Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Saana Murray

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Saana Murray at the
weekend. Saana was the only one of the original Wai 262 claimants that was
still alive when the report was released in July and, before any further
discussion of the report, it is important to acknowledge her.Without the foresight shown by her and her
fellow claimants all those years ago and the determination they demonstrated in
pursuing the issues addressed in the Wai 262 inquiry we might not yet have come
to directly consider, in such a comprehensive way, the Crown’s failure to
recognise and respect mātauranga Māori across the whole of government. Her role
in the Wai 262 inquiry was, of course, just one example of her passion and her
commitment to Māori rights and the wellbeing of her people.She was laid to rest today at Kapowairua.

Ahi-kā-roa

Ahi-kā-roa literally means "the long-burning fires". It is a Māori concept that encapsulates the idea that decision-making authority and rights associated with land are maintained through the connection to that land and the fulfillment of obligations in relation to it.

About Me

I am of Ngāti Kahungunu and Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki descent. I am a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington. My primary research interests relate to the Treaty of Waitangi and indigenous legal traditions. Before joining the faculty in 2006, I worked in a number of different roles at the Waitangi Tribunal, Māori Land Court, and the Office of Treaty Settlements. I have recently completed a PhD through the University of Victoria, British Columbia. My dissertation is entitled 'The Treaty of Waitangi Settlement Process in Māori Legal History'. I am the Co-Editor of the Māori Law Review